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Lost Wagon Train

Lost Wagon Train

Posted: 24 Feb 2000 10:17PM GMT
Edited: 24 Jun 2001 5:36AM GMT
I am wondering if there are any other descendents out there of the lost Elliot wagon train of 1853. It sounds like it was quite an ordeal!
Jeff

Oregon Trail

Posted: 24 May 2000 11:09PM GMT
Edited: 27 Jan 2002 10:18PM GMT
If you would like information on the Elliot train I can get some sources for you. I am writing a book about the trail. Give me a couple of days and I'll dig them out for you.

I am not related.

Response to Query

Posted: 25 May 2000 2:03PM GMT
Edited: 27 Jan 2002 10:18PM GMT
The Oregon Genealogy groups can be reached on line thru http://endoftheoregontrail.org. Meeker's book can be found in old and rare books sites. He self published a lot and signed them all. Some "scholar's' frown on him as a historion since he promoted himself, but he knew the trail better than many.If you would like to read more about the trail you might like: Schissel"s Women's Diarys of the
Westward Journey or Lavender's Westward Vision. J.R. Gregg's The OREGON Trail, Santa Fe Trail, and Others has a lot of "factoids" not found in others. He is my major source. Hallie Huntington Hills All the Way West tells of the rescue of a lost train. If you get into this area you will find that a lot of trains got lost. One of my most amusing finds was that of a family who sold off, said goodbye to friends and loved ones, and started to Oregon. After a long day's travel, things began to look familiar. They had gone in a circle and were back home. Not a good omen!

My computer eccentricities

Posted: 25 May 2000 2:09PM GMT
Edited: 27 Jan 2002 10:18PM GMT
The last message re:sources was from Sal Taylor, not the mysterious "vendar" I think I hit a key when I was typing Lavendar.

Elliott Train

Posted: 5 Jul 2000 10:24PM GMT
Edited: 24 Jun 2001 5:36AM GMT
I am sure that a lot of trains got lost, but at this time I am only interested in the Elliott Train of 1853. I'm afraid that I do not find getting lost in a covered wagon to be amusing, especially when it is a train of hundreds of people wandering in the desert of Eastern Oregon with water terribly hard to find and the poison weeds killing the oxen that are pulling the wagons. I am also sure that Mr. Meeker knew the trail better than most but it was under his advise that Elliott and the others decided to take the "short cut" through the desert. If you are ever in Harney County, Oregon stop and see the marker erected to remember those lost trains and the strength and courage it took to survive the ordeal.

Oregon Trail

Posted: 6 Jul 2000 8:22AM GMT
Edited: 27 Jan 2002 10:18PM GMT
I have researched the trail, ridden it, photographed lonely graves, have a personal library of over 60 books and diaries on the trail. My examination relates to the conditions the children -including those in the Elliot train. Don't confuse Joe MEEK and Ezra Meeker. Incidently even the pioneers had a sense of humor.

Trail book

Craig Reekie (View posts)
Posted: 27 Aug 2000 1:39PM GMT
Sal, Will your book include the Whitman Massacre and when will it be out? Good luck, C.R.

Whitman Massacre

Posted: 27 Aug 2000 8:35PM GMT
Edited: 27 Jan 2002 10:18PM GMT
Thanks for the good wishes, Craig. Sometimes I think it will never be done, but yes, it will contain a chapter on the children at the mission at the time of the attack. Why do you ask? Is this a special interest?

Whitman Massacre

Craig Reekie (View posts)
Posted: 28 Aug 2000 1:45PM GMT
Hello Sal, I've spent the last couple of years researching my Sayles roots in Mass, RI NY.I caught Amos Sails' name on the Whitman gravestone while watching PBS last year and wondered if he was one of us. Most Sayles were Quakers and almost all American Sayles are direct descendents of Roger Williams who survived the burning of Providence in 1676. I would find it ironic if one of his descendents would die in such a sad violent way while sick in bed while Williams survived the burning of Providence where he face six hundred+ angry Indians unarmed! Well Good luck on the book and just to let you know I have requested a Whitman Massacre Topic Board.

Whitman Massacre

Sal Taylor (View posts)
Posted: 11 Oct 2000 6:32PM GMT
I will continue to watch for any referenmces to Sales or Sayles. Have you looked through all of the Sagar diarys? The sisters differ in what they recalled. The catholicx priest who interred the victims recorded the scene when he arrived. Spaulding wasn't there but he may have mentioned Amos Sales.
Eliza Spaulding was about Matilda Sagar's age
and was with her at the beginning of the massacre. Her family records may be useful I'm glad you are starting a site. It should
connect a lot of people with information that isn't generally available. Good luck.
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